Carton



May 30, 1950 B. A. RAFOTH Er AL CARTON 3 sneetssneet 2 Filed Nov. 14, 1947 May 30, 1950 B. A. RAForH Erm. 2,509,616

CARTON Filed Nov. 14, 1.947 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented May 30, 1950 CARTON Bennie A. Rafoth, Appleton, and George E. Wanda, Neenah, Wis., assignors to Marathon Corporation, Rothschild, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application November 14, 1947, Serial No. 786.029

1 Claim.

This invention relates to a package or carton provided with means for retaining a spoon as a functional part of the package.

Large quantities of single slices or helpings of ice cream, sherbet, frozen loes and desserts and the like are being sold in paper cartons or packages which are usually provided with a hinged cover that is opened so that the consumer may eat the food directly from the container by means of a wooden spoon or other implement that may be provided. Buch packages are sold on trains, amusement places, parks, refreshment places and in outdoor stands. It has been customary to give the consumer a spoon with each purchase or to place a spoon loosely inside the package which the consumer can use for eating Y the food products. When spoons are inserted within the package they are often lost or-misplaced.

According to the present invention. means are provided as an integral part of the carton so as to form a pocket portion within which a wooden spoon' or other implement may be inserted and in which it will be securely retained while being shipped or stored until it is used by the consumer. The pocket portion occupies relatively little space and is constructed in such manner that it is a functional 'part of the package and does not unduly bulk or bulge the package or deform it in any way. Before or after opening the cover of the carton or container it is possible to readily remove the spoon or other implement by merely slipping it out of the pocket portion for convenient use.

Other advantages and objects of'this invention will be apparent from the following specification and drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the inside face of the single, integral blank from which the carton is formed;

Figure 2 is a plan view similar to Figure 1, il` lustrating one manner of forming the spoon holding portion of the blank;

Figure 3 is a plan view of the blank in tubular form and collapsed in ilat condition ready for shipment to the packager of a commodity;

Figure 4 isa perspective view of the carton in set-up condition ready for filling with a commodity; A

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a completed package;

Figure 6 is a fragmental, vertical section of a completed package, illustrating in detail the` manner in which the sealed package is opened:

Figure 7 is a perspective view, illustrating the 2 completed package after opening to expose the contents;

Figure 8 is a perspective view of a tray which may be formed by removing the cover and the spoon holding portion from the opened package;

Figure 9 is a perspective view of a completed package, illustrating a modified form of our invention;

Figure 10 is a, Iragmental, vertical sectional view taken along the line lli-iii oi. Figure 9, lllustrating the manner in which the sealed package may be opened;

Figure 11 is a perspective view of a completed package illustrating another embodiment oi our invention; and Y Figure 12 is a fragmental, vertical, sectional view taken along the line i2-i2 of Figure 11, illustrating the manner of opening the package.

Referring to the drawings, wherein like numerals indicate like elements, an illustrative embodiment of our invention is shown in Figures l to 8, wherein a single integral blank of paper cardboard or other suitable material is suitablyA cut and scored to provide 9, iront wall I0, a bottom wall il, a rear wall I2, a cover i3, a glue panel i4, a pocket panel i5, a pocket panel I6 and a second glue panel i1 having a free edge I1' hingedly connected to each other by parallel score lines I8, I9, 2D, 2l, 22, 23 and 24, respectively. The panels il, i5, i6 and I1 constitute an integrally formed extension of the cover i3. Preferably, the score line 2li is perforated. The score line 24 preferably is` partially cut through the blank as shown in Figure 6. The pocket panels l5 and I6 are each provided with cut-out portions 25 at their lateral edges for reasons which will subsequently appear. Preferably, the cut-out portions are semicircular in configuration. y

The front wall l0 is provided with free end flaps 26 integrally hinged thereto by score lines 21. The end ilaps 26 are separated from adjacent ilaps by slits 28. The flaps 26 are providedwith slits 29 and 30. The bottom wall Il is provided with inner end walls 3l integrally hinged thereto by score lines 32. The rear wall i2 is provided with end ilaps 33 integrally hinged thereto by score lines 34 and are separated from adjacent naps by slits 35 and cut-outs 3E. The ilaps 33 are provided with tongues 31. `The cover i 3 is provided with inner end. ilaps 38 integrally hinged thereto by score lines 39.

To form a carton from the blank shown in Figure 1, the pocket panel i6 and the glue flap I'I are folded inwardly along score line 23 and superimposed onto the pocket panel l and the glue flap I4, respectively. The faces oi glue iiaps I1 and I are secured together by adhesive to form a pocket portion 40, as illustrated in Figure 2. The front wall I0, with its end aps 26 is folded over onto the inner surface of the bottom Wall I I along the score line I 8. The cover I3 and the attached glue naps and pocket portion 40 are folded over onto the front wall I0 along the score line 30. The outer face of the glue flap I'I, which is coated with adhesive 4I, as shown in Figure 2, is adhered to the upper marginal portion of the outside surface of the front wall I Il leaving the pocket portion fit! closely overlying the front wall IIi and free to serve as a grasping tab. Instead of applying the adhesive to the nap i l, the adhesive may be applied to the outside segment of the front wall l@ which will be contacted by the glue panel El. Also, the carton stock may be suitably treated, coated or laminated with thermoplastic material, whereby adherence is obtained by the application of heat and pressure to the contacting areas of glue nap i1 and the underlying portion of the front wall i9. It is desirable at this point to insert a spoon or other implement l2 in the pocket tt. The spoon 2 can be readily slipped within the pocket portion d and engaged therein merely by frictional engagement of the faces thereof. lf desired the spoon 2 may be inserted in the pocket do when the carton blank is in the condition shown in Figure 2. The resulting tubular structure in dat, collapsed condition and containing a spoon, as illustrated in Figure 8, is now ready for shipment with a minimum use of storage space by the carton manufacturer to the carton user. The cut-out portions 25 facilitate grasping the spoon or other implement l2 which can thus be removed from the pocket 4Q.

The sides of panels Ifl, I5, it and il' constituting the extension on cover I3 are preferably sloped toward each other, as shown in Figure l, so that the ends of the pocket portion llt, or grasping tab, are spaced away slightly from the ends of the carton, as shown in Figures e and 5.

It will be observed that the spoon pocket te, is in fiat condition overlying the outside surface of the front wall Ill where the volume-defined by the cartons front, bottom, rear, and end walls and cover is in no way diminished. The spoon is thus maintained adjacent the carton without undue bulging or distortion of the contour of the carton. As shown in Figure 4, the packaging of the commodity simply requires squaring up the tubular carton shown in Figure 3, folding inwardly to a horizontal plane the end flaps 3l and 33, the end flap 23 and then the end ap 33, the tongue 3l being inserted in the slit 23. After inserting a commodity 43 (see Figure 6), the end aps on the other side are closed in the same manner, resulting in the iinished package shown in Figure 5.

To open the package and expose the contents, it is simply necessary to grasp the spoon pocket portion 40, which also serves as a grasping tab, and pull in the direction of the arrow A, as shown in Figure 6. The partially cut score line 24 facilitates bending up of the pocket portion. The tension thus applied will cause the adhesive 4I between the front wall I0 and the glue panel I'I to rupture, thereby causing the cover I3, its end panels 38 and the spoon holding pocket di! to be lifted to the position shown in Figure 7, thereby exposing the contents of the package. To form a neat. compact tray, the portion of the carton above the perforated score line 20 is torn along said score line and discarded to give the illled tray shown in Figure 8. The spoon 42, may be removed from the pocket portion either before or after opening the carton.

The construction of the glue panels I 4 and I1 and the pocket panels I5 and I 6 and the intervening score lines as previously described facilitate the ready grasping of the pocket panels and tearing open of the carton without peeling the fibrous stock material. The partially cut score line 26 facilitates bending up of the pocket portiton 4l). There will be no peeling of the carton stock on the inside of the carton because the fibers cannot peel beyond the upper outer edge of the front wall It when the carton is opened as the fibers on the inner face of the glue ilap Il are discontinuous with the fibers of the overlapped portion of the front wall. The carton construction thus provides a carton made from a single blank of carton stock having a cover provided with a single integral means for sealing the carton, for containing a spoon or other implement, and providing a convenient grasping tab for opening the carton in a simple and neat manner.

Figures 9 and 10 illustrate a modified form of our invention wherein the spoon pocket portion is disposed to overlay the cover I3, instead of the front wall as previously described. The spoon pocket portion is glued to the cover I3 by one of the pocket panels to form a compact package. In forming this modified construction, the blank illustrated in Figure l is used, except that the glue panel I 'I is formed intermediate the glue panel I4 and the pocket panel I5 thereby causing the pocket panel I@ instead of glue panel Il, to be located at the end of the blank. For the purpose of clarity, the panels hinged to the cover I3 and constituting the extension are designated glue panel 5B, glue panel 5l, pocket panel 52, and pocket panel 53 in that order, the latter having the free edge 53. In this form of the invention, the glue panel 5d is folded onto the outside surface of the front wall IIB and glued to the upper margin thereof :by a suitable adhesive 54. The adjacent glue panel 5l is folded back onto the glue panel 56 and adhered thereto by an adhesive 55. The pocket panel 53 is folded into a plane parallel with respect to the cover I3 and adjacent thereto and adhered to the cover I3 by an adhesive 56. The adjacent, unadhered surfaces of pocket panels 52 and 53 provide a pocket 5l' for receiving the spoon or similar element 42.

To open a lled package of this modied construction, the user grasps the doubled glue aps on the front of the package and pulls in the direction of the arrow B, as shown in Figure l0. Such action will result in cleavage of the bond or adhesive 54 uniting the glue panel 50 to the front Wall Ill. The cover I3 is then free for removal along the perforated score line 20 if such removal is desired. The spoon 42 may be removed from the ypocket 51 either before or after opening the package.

Another modified form of the invention is illustrated in Figures 11 and 12. For this construction, the same blank shown in Figure 1 is utilized except that it is preferred to partially cut score line 22 instead of score line 24. However, instead of folding the pocket panel I 6 and glue panel I'I inwardly along score line 23 onto the pocket panel I5 and glue panel I4, as shown in Figure 2, the pocket panel I6 and the glue panel i1 are folded outwardly, or in the opposite direction, thereby bringing the reverse sides of the pocket and glue panels in overlapping relation. This folding operation will cause the free edge l1 of the glue panel I1 to be on the outside of the finished package instead of adhered directly to the front wall ID as shown in Figures 4, 5 and 6. To open the package, the free and unadhered pocket portion 4|] formed by the pocket panels I5 and I6 is grasped and pulled in the direction of the arrow C. as shown in Figure 12. The tension will cause the bond or adhesive 4I between the glue panel I4 and the front wall I0 to be broken thereby enabling the cover I3 to be lifted to expose the contents 43 of the package.

If desired, adhesive may be applied at the marginal portion of either the pocket panel l5 or the pocket panel I6 or both, or their equivalent panels 5B and 5I, at the end or ends opposite the cutaway portions 25 so that when one pocket panel is folded over onto the other, a closed end will be provided for the pocket so that the spoon could not possibly slip out at this closed end.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms Without departing from the essential attributes thereof. For example, it is within the purview of the invention to provide the front, bottom and rear walls and the cover with end walls or end iiap closures of other suitable constructions well known in the art rather than of the type described in the specific embodiments shown. It is desired that the present specific embodiments be considered in al1 respects as illustrative and not restrictive, reference being had to the appended claim rather than to the gral blank of paper, cardboard or the like com- Number prlsing front, rear, bottom and end walls said end walls being formed with interlocking flaps,

a cover hinged to said rear wall, an extension on the free edge of said cover integrally extending therefrom, said extension comprising a glue panel hinged to said cover, a pocket panel hinged to said glue panel, a second pocket panel hinged to said pocket panel, said pocket panels being of substantially the same width, and a second glue panel having a free edge hinged to said sec-l ond pocket panel, said glue panels being of substantially the same width, said extension being folded upon itself so that said second glue panel is adhered in face-to-face relation to said first named glue panel and the pocket panels form a pocket portion for receivin,r a spoon or the like, said folded extension being overlapped on Said front wall and adhered thereto by the exposed face of one of said glue panels with said pocket portion parallel to and closely adjacent said front wall, said pocket portion being free and providing a grasping portion for tearing said folded extension free from said front wall to permit lifting said cover and exposing the contents of the carton.

BENNIE A. RAFOTH. GEORGE E. WAUDA.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,961,375 McAleer June i5, 1934 1,963,626 Lewandowski 4.--- June 19, 1934 2,246,484 Frieders June 17, 1941 2,433,926 Sayre Jan. I6, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date 47,304 Norway Dec. y16, 1929 

